Serum sterilization in the cold with peracetic acid]

In previous research scopolamine reduced fear or defense responses of rats to a cat, and removal of the rats' olfactory bulbs had the same effect. This suggested that scopolamine might have affected defense responses by blocking olfactory perception of the stimulus cat. The present experiments studied this possibility and explored further the effects of scopolamine on defense responses of the hooded rat. In Experiment 1 rats treated with scopolamine were found to be responsive to olfactory cues from a cat. When cat smell, but not a cat, was present in the apparatus, scopolamine-treated rats showed a large and significant suppression of food consumption. In Experiment 2 the effects of scopolamine on defense responses were shown to be generalizable to an inanimate stimulus, mechanical robot. Scopolamine caused significantly less freezing and avoidance and significantly shorter latencies to drink in the presence of the robot. One of the primary findings of the present research is that scopolamine has now been shown to reduce the defensive response of freezing in a variety of stimulus situations. This finding was thought to have important implications for the literature relating anticholinergic drugs and avoidance behavior.     

Elements in the choice of a technic for female sterilization]

This experiment determined whether overt performance of the entire response (actual running) was necessary for the conditioning of methylphenidate-induced locomotor activity (wheel-running) in guinea pigs. Four guinea pigs were given daily injections of 2.5 mg/kg methylphenidate and were allowed to run in activity wheels; 4 other guinea pigs were given methylphenidate and were placed in locked activity wheels; a third group of 4 guinea pigs were administered saline and allowed to locomote; a fourth group of 4 guinea pigs received saline injections and were placed in locked activity wheels. After 12 days of injection, all animals were given saline injections on the 9 subsequent days and allowed to run freely in the wheels. The 2 groups which had received methylphenidate showed more locomotor activity than the saline injected animals but were not distinguishable from each other on the basis of prior opportunity to engage in locomotor activity. These results were interpreted to indicate that (a) increased methylphenidate-induced locomotor activity may be conditioned with repeated administration of the drug, and (b) actual running is not essential for the conditioning of drug-induced wheel-running.     

Changes in crystallinity by sterilization and processing of ultrahigh molecular polyethylene used in endoprosthetics]

Research in animals shows that the levels of neuropathic pain expression is genetically associated with a characteristic response profile to sensory stimuli. The aim of the present investigation was to examine if pressure algometry can identify a specific pain sensitivity profile in patients with complex regional pain syndrome, Type I (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), and to distinguish complex regional pain syndromes from other chronic pain dysfunction syndromes. Pressure pain threshold and pain tolerance measured at the sternum in 17 patients with complex regional pain syndrome, Type I (reflex sympathetic dystrophy), were compared with values obtained in 13 patients suffering from other chronic pain dysfunction syndromes and in a control group of 24 pain-free volunteers. The pressure algometer consisted of a force displacement transducer with a 0.25 cm2 tip connected to a recorder. The rate of force application was 1 kg/0.25 cm2/s. The difference between threshold and tolerance was defined as the pain sensitivity range. Young patients with complex regional pain syndrome (<40 yr) demonstrated a significantly higher mean pain sensitivity range compared with young subjects who had chronic pain or who were pain-free. Mean threshold and tolerance values were significantly lower in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (2.7+/-1.0 kg (mean +/- standard deviation) and 5.4+/-2.0 kg, respectively) and in patients suffering from other chronic pain syndromes (2.6+/-1.1 and 4.6+/-1.7 kg) than in healthy subjects (5.4+/-2.3 and 8.4+/-2.6 kg). Women in the chronic pain group exhibited a significantly lower pressure pain threshold than all other subgroups. Regardless of group, women exhibited lower pressure pain tolerance than men. In conclusion, the study contained herein shows a specific pain sensitivity profile to experimental stimuli behavior in young patients with complex regional pain syndrome expressed by a large pressure pain sensitivity range, at a location away from the painful area. However, one single pressure pain measurement over the sternum is insufficient for differentiation of patients with complex regional pain syndrome from those with chronic pain because of intersubject variation.     

Ectopic pregnancy in women who use intrauterine contraceptive devices]

This study analyzes occurrence of ectopic pregnancies in women using intrauterine contraceptive devices. During a 5-year period, 1990-1994, 524 women with ectopic pregnancies underwent surgery at our Clinic, while 22 (4.2%) had intrauterine devices. At admission most patients had signs of heavy intraabdominal bleeding, so in 77.27% cases the diagnosis was made by punction of the Douglas area, and only in 9.09% by laparoscopy, that is other methods for early detection of diseases. Rupture of the fallopian tube occurred in 50% of patients, tubal abortions in 36.36% and ovarian pregnancies in 13.64%, whereas 18 salpingectomies and 4 adnexectomies were performed. Late diagnosis and impossibility of performing conservative operations on fallopian tubes are the consequence of disregarding the possibility of getting pregnant by the users of intrauterine devices themselves, as well as by physicians whose help is asked for after symptoms appear.     

Electrochemical sterilization of beer

Electrochemical inactivation of microorganisms was not achieved in beer but was achieved in physiological saline. Addition of carbohydrates or proteins to physiological saline prevented inactivation in this medium.     

A comparison of definable traits in women requesting reversal of sterilization and women satisfied with sterilization

More women of reproductive age are being sterilized. Some of these women regret the decision and subsequently request a reversal of sterilization, whereas others do not. This study was undertaken to develop a profile of easily definable traits of 159 women who requested a reversal of sterilization and compare it with that of 160 women who apparently were satisfied with sterilization. Statistically significant differences were found. Remarriage was the most common cause for regret among women in the group which requested reversal of sterilization. Women in this group married younger, completed their family earlier, and were sterilized at a younger age. These women had significantly fewer live children and had undergone more therapeutic abortions (p less than 0.005).     

Comparison of liquid chemical sterilization with peracetic acid and ethylene oxide sterilization for long narrow lumens

The aim of this study was to determine how well peracetic acid liquid chemical sterilization (LCPAS) killed test organisms in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum and 0.65% salt challenge (RPMI-S) compared with a 100% ethylene oxide (ETO) sterilizer and an ETO hydrochlorofluorocarbon (ETO-HCFC) sterilization method with long (125 cm), narrow (3-mm internal diameter) flexible lumens as the test carrier. The inoculated lumens were dried overnight before processing. The test organisms included Mycobacterium chelonei, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus subtilis. For all 3 organisms tested, the LCPAS process resulted in a 6 log10 reduction in bacterial load compared with a 2.5 log10 to 6 log10 reduction for the 100% ETO and ETO-HCFC sterilizers. Sterilization was achieved for 100%, 61%, and 67% of the lumen test carriers for the LCPAS, 100% ETO, and ETO-HCFC sterilizers, respectively. The data indicate that of the sterilization methods evaluated, LCPAS was the most effective for sterilizing narrow flexible lumens in the presence of residual inorganic and organic soil. This effectiveness was achieved through a combination of organism wash-off and peracetic acid sterilant killing of organisms. Salt was the major compounding factor for effective ETO gas sterilization, because carriers inoculated with organisms in 10% fetal bovine serum alone all were sterilized by both 100% ETO and ETO-HCFC sterilization methods. Our data support the critical need to ensure adequate precleaning of narrow flexible lumen endoscopes before any sterilization method.     

The laparoscopic sterilization of women

The optimal time for sterilization is 24-36 hours after childbirth or during the 8th week in the postpartum period. The surgical methods of sterilization of the ovarian ducts are simple, harmless, effective, reversible, economical, and voluntary. These considerations also apply to endoscopic methods. For the occlusion of ovarian ducts, electrical current (monopolar and bipolar) and mechanical means (Yoon ring, Hulka and Filshie clips) are used. Unipolar coagulation of the ovarian ducts is another method of surgical sterilization done by laparoscopy. The area of coagulation occupies about 1.5 cm. The length of bipolar coagulation is 10 times larger than the unipolar coagulation site. Patients can be released 4 hours or the next day after the operation. The frequency of complications with bipolar coagulation is low: burning occurs in 0.04-0.1% of cases and bleeding from the mesosalpinx in 0.16-0.5%. The incidence of pregnancy after the operation amounts to 0.1-0.4%. Mechanical methods of sterilization are also reliable, although they are not suitable for all women. For young women who may still want children it is uniquely expedient to employ the Hulka or Filshie clips. In the rest of the cases the Yoon ring can be used, which was first used in the US in 1972 and became popular subsequently. The rate of complications is rare with its use (0.12-3.75%), and pregnancy occurs in 0.08-0.4% of cases. The incidence of complications with the use of clips amounts to 0-0.71%, the pregnancy rate is 0-0.59%, and the possibility of reversal is 80-100%. This method is ideal for young women who do not want to use other contraceptives and who want to have more children.     

Electrochemical Disinfection of Saline Wastewater Effluent

A laboratory-scale electrochemical (EC) disinfector was used for the disinfection of various wastewater effluents, including saline primary effluent, saline secondary effluent, and freshwater secondary effluent. Such EC disinfection was highly effective for saline effluent with a salinity content of around 8‰. A killing efficiency of 99.9% on total coliform bacteria was achieved for saline secondary effluent with a contact time of less than 10 s and a power consumption rate no more than 0.006?kWh/m3. For primarily treated saline effluent, the same degree of disinfection was obtained with a contact time of less than 20 s and a power consumption of lower than 0.08 kWh/m3. The efficiency of EC disinfection was regulated by both the contact time (t) and current density (Id) applied, and a kinetic function in terms of survival ratio (N/N0) was developed for the saline secondary effluent, i.e., log(N/N0) = ?0.01(Idt)1.87. While EC disinfection is highly applicable for saline effluent, it did not exhibit a similar degree of effectiveness for freshwater sewage effluent, even with a longer contact time and higher power input. Based on the results of the EC disinfection and comparative direct chlorination experiments, it is argued that the main disinfecting action of the EC process may not be electrochlorination. The EC process could produce other short-lived, more powerful germicidal substances that exert the strong killing function within a short contact time.     

消毒供应室护理风险及其防范措施

目的:探讨消毒供应室护士职业风险因素及有效的防范措施.方法:分析消毒供应室护士常见的职业风险因素,从而有针对性的制定对应的防护措施,包括培养和提高护士风险防范意识和能力,加强护士专业理论和实践学习,避免或减轻工作中常见的物理性、化学性及生物性损伤.结果:护士风险防范意识和能力显著增强,专业理论和实践操作明显提高,能有效地防范各种职业风险,维护自身健康.结论:消毒供应室护士是医源性感染的高危人群,分析风险事故发生的原因,从而有针对性的采取防范措施,可最大限度的避免或减少护士发生意外事故的可能,从而保证消毒供应室工作的正常开展.     

Modeling of Disinfection Contactor Hydraulics under Uncertainty

A study has been done to evaluate the predictive capabilities of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of disinfection contactor hydraulics under model input uncertainty. The study consists of modeling the transport of a chemical tracer in a full-scale reactor and predicting the effluent residence time distribution (RTD) curve. An uncertainty analysis using Monte Carlo probabilistic techniques was used to determine the sensitivity of the effluent RTD to uncertainty in the influent turbulent kinetic energy constant, the turbulent Schmidt number, the wall roughness height, the influent turbulent length scale, and the turbulence model selection. Kruskal–Wallis, Friedman, and Spearman Rho statistical tests were used to evaluate changes in T10/HRT and Morril index due to input uncertainties. The results show that there are some variations in the effluent RTD due to changes in the model input parameters. The effluent RTD variations increased with decreasing contactor hydraulic efficiency or increased mixing. The effluent RTD was most sensitive to uncertainty in the turbulent Schmidt number and the selected turbulence model.     

Hydraulic Calibration and Fluence Determination of Model Ultraviolet Disinfection System

The objective of this project was to determine the impact hydraulic dispersion has on the calibration of a flow-though model ultraviolet (UV)-disinfection system with chemical actinometry (potassium ferrioxalate) and MS 2 bacteriophage. Fluence was supplied by a medium-pressure ultraviolet lamp to a quartz tube (19 mm diameter) situated in a ventilated galvanized casing. The UV lamp was attached to a vertical position guide, for UV fluence to be varied by positioning the UV lamp at various vertical heights above the quartz tube. Water was pumped through the quartz tube at rates of 100–300 mL/min. An in-line pipe mixer was installed prior to the UV system to ensure adequate mixing with the bulk liquid and chemical actinometer and to mitigate jet formation within the quartz tube. Tracer studies were conducted with and without the in-line mixer using potassium chloride (3 mM). Dispersion coefficients were obtained from the tracer study and incorporated into an axial-dispersion model to determine the rate coefficient of potassium ferrioxalate in the model UV system. A numerical model was used to determine the fluence supplied by the lamp with a reduction in exposure time. After dispersion and kinetics are accounted for within the UV system, the model predicted UV fluence that was in general agreement with UV design curves for inactivation MS 2 bacteriophage. The differences in the design curves and the fluence–response model in the present investigation were found to be related to the experimental errors introduced from using a flowing system and because a medium pressure lamp was used in the present investigation.     

Effectiveness of two methods of denture sterilization

Species of Candida and in particular Candida albicans may be involved in the aetiology of denture stomatitis. Studies have shown that Candida and other oral micro-organisms including Streptococcus gordonii are associated with denture plaque; hence denture hygiene is an important factor in the prevention and treatment of the disease. The aim of this investigation was to test in vitro the efficacy of two methods of denture sterilization: (1) microwave irradiation and (2) sodium hypochlorite soak. Twenty upper acrylic dentures were prepared for microbiological assay; 10 were inoculated with C. albicans H1 and 10 with S. gordonii LGR2. Within each group, five dentures were tested in a domestic microwave oven for optimal exposure time and temperature to ensure sterilization; the five control dentures were not microwaved. Microbiological analyses showed that the inoculated dentures became sterile after six min of irradiation at medium setting (2450 MHz, 350 W). Damage to the microorganisms after microwave irradiation was clearly visible by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Following the same protocol as above, experimental dentures were soaked for 8 h in either 0.02%, or 0.0125% sodium hypochlorite solution and control dentures soaked in distilled water. Microbiological analyses showed that the experimental dentures inoculated with C. albicans H1 became sterile. By contrast, those inoculated with S. gordonii LGR2 did not become sterile, and the SEM procedures confirmed these findings. The results of this study indicate that microwaving may be a more effective method of denture sterilization than denture soaking in sodium hypochlorite. However, compared with microwaving, hypochlorite reduces the levels of residual non-viable micro-organisms attached to the denture surface.